Hello, Beautiful!

I like to shake up my Bible reading plan from time to time.

See – I’m cool. You just hadn’t known before now.
Mind blown, huh?

Typically, the Bible in a year plan takes me through portions of the Old Testament, New Testament, Proverbs, and Psalms, each day.

Well, the other day, I wanted to read Esther.
So, I did.
All in one sitting.

Don’t be impressed. It’s a really short book.
A really short book that plays out like a daytime soap. So, once you start reading it, good luck stopping.

Chapter one is full of drama between the King of Susa and his queen. It ends in the decision to remove her title and replace her with a new queen.

Letters are sent out to all the provinces to gather all the beautiful young virgins to be put under the watch of one of the king’s eunuchs.

In chapter 2, at the end of verse 3 (ESV), there is a line that cracks me up – Let their cosmetics be given them.

Verse 12 states that those cosmetics will need to go on for a year before the beautiful young virgins can be presented to the king.

A year!

First, you tell me that the most beautiful women in the land still need cosmetics. Then, you make it clear that a quick pre-wedding pampering session isn’t enough? They need a year of treatments!

There’s no hope.

It makes my mind go to the story of when Jesus is chatting with the disciples about how a camel could get through the eye of a needle easier than a rich man could get into heaven. Then, He concludes it by saying all things are possible with God.

Good thing!

Because reading that the most beautiful virgins in the land still needed a year of prep work to be presentable is a bit concerning for all of us other ladies. Geez! Lol!

Thank you, God, that with You, all things are possible.

There is hope!

Moving on from this personal crisis...

Today, when we think about cosmetics, what comes to mind is the paint we apply to our faces. We have foundations, highlighters, mascara, eye-liner, lipstick, and more things than I can list.

However, in the book of Esther, no mention is made of beautifying or drawing around the eyes, coloring the cheeks or lips, etc.

What’s mentioned is a regimen of oils, spices, and ointments.

It makes me think that instead of panting the young girls’ faces, they were more interested in healing their bodies of life’s scars. They wanted to use oils, ointments, and spices to soften the skin that had become hard from the trials each young girl faced as she grew.

The King had no desire for an instant beauty. He wanted someone real – someone that was whole, healthy, and well-nourished.

Men, I hope you are still reading because none of these cosmetics are about face paint. You will also be presented before the King one day, and it’s never been about the length of your eyelashes. It’s always been about the condition of your soul.

We all need our cosmetics before we go to the King.

Thankfully, Jesus has sent us the Holy Spirit, who is our beautifying oil. It took a year of preparation before the most beautiful virgins in the entire land were considered fit to go before the King of Susa.

How much longer must it take as we are prepared to be presented before the King of Kings?

Has your soul been conditioned today?
Has the anointing oil of the Holy Spirit been allowed to pour over you?

Have you received your cosmetics today?

Father, we thank You for the Holy Spirit that is here working in us and preparing us for the day that we are presented before Your Son, the King of Kings. We ask You, Holy Spirit, to come and fill us today. Anoint our heads with Your beautifying oil as we walk in expectant hope of our future marriage to the Savior of the World. In His mighty name, Amen!